Once again, I think this is going to be a whole refresh of the TiVo desktop aproach. With Stream integration, and real time viewing.

At least TiVo was nice enough to give everyone a heads-up to download the current version before the update. But for me the current version hasn't brought value is quite some time. On the other hand, I am looking forward to this refresh.

So for those of us that purchased a plus key and it was from Digital River.... Do we get the new plus version when it comes out? I did not get the email from Tivo. I guess it's because I did not actually purchase my version directly from Tivo.

So for those of us that purchased a plus key and it was from Digital River.... Do we get the new plus version when it comes out? I did not get the email from Tivo. I guess it's because I did not actually purchase my version directly from Tivo.

notice only the pc version is ending the Mac free versions are still going to be available.

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Mac version isn't even worth having. Pretty much you need to have Roxio Toast or Roxio Popcorn in order to get transfer functionality. So, the Mac folks have always had to pay to get the same functionality as the free Windows version.

If they are coming out with new software that sounds like a good deal to me. I've been using TiVo Desktop for many, many years now. I more than got my moneys worth. If they introduce something new, I will get that as well. Especially if they still charge a low price like the do for TiVo Desktop+.

I think this is a support issue. Windows 8 does not include a MPEG-2 decoder by default, and no future version of Windows will either, so the free version is useless even for simple playback on Win8+ unless the user has an MPEG-2 codec from another source. Since there is no way to guarantee that TiVo is switching to Plus only, which includes an MPEG-2 codec, so they can guarantee files will at least play on all systems.

If you account for the licensing fees they're paying MainConcept and the MPEG-LA for all the various codecs they include in Plus they're really only making a few bucks off the $16 they're charging. So this isn't really a money making venture for them.

The application itself works fine, but I have not tried to play a video on my PC from a standard Windows 8 build. I suspect playback would fail due to a lack of standard video Codecs installed on Windows 8.

I still think we are going to see a major refresh in the software in the near future.

I think this is a support issue. Windows 8 does not include a MPEG-2 decoder by default, and no future version of Windows will either, so the free version is useless even for simple playback on Win8+ unless the user has an MPEG-2 codec from another source. Since there is no way to guarantee that TiVo is switching to Plus only, which includes an MPEG-2 codec, so they can guarantee files will at least play on all systems.

If you account for the licensing fees they're paying MainConcept and the MPEG-LA for all the various codecs they include in Plus they're really only making a few bucks off the $16 they're charging. So this isn't really a money making venture for them.

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This would imply an even stronger indication that they are working on a Windows 8 Metro app that requires a TiVo Stream to transfer and stream shows. It makes perfect sense even though it will frustrate lots of users who will say "My computer can play MPEG 2, why require a Stream?!", not understand where the market is going.

This would imply an even stronger indication that they are working on a Windows 8 Metro app that requires a TiVo Stream to transfer and stream shows. It makes perfect sense even though it will frustrate lots of users who will say "My computer can play MPEG 2, why require a Stream?!", not understand where the market is going.

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Not sure how you are getting from point A to B. Nothing TiVo has released has said TiVo Desktop for Windows 8 will be a Metro app and will require a Stream to work. All they have said is that the Officially supported TiVo Desktop for windows 8 will not be free.

That of course doesn't mean there will not be a Win 8 metro app for use with the Stream but I can not see them charging for it as they don't charge for the iOS app now.

What I do hope they find away to do in the future releases of TiVo Desktop is to have them be able to actually stream content from a Premiere.

Oh an by the way all that is required for Windows 8 to be able to play MPEG 2 files is to install the free VLC Media player.